Start with the natural curiosity K-12
students have about planets,
stars, comets and space. Add information on
artistic and historical
connections between science and the human
experience. Merge with
full-color graphics, movies, animation and text
geared to three
different user levels---beginner, intermediate and
advanced. The
result is "Windows to the Universe," a new World Wide Web
site being
developed at the Space Physics Research Laboratory with funding
by
NASA.

Designed for use in science museums, libraries and the
classroom,
"Windows to the Universe" gives users access to more than
2,000
images from NASA satellites and spacecraft and
observatories
worldwide. "Windows" includes information on astrophysics
and
astronomy, solar and space physics, planetary and lunar
science,
mythology, art, music, literature and philosophy---all linked in
a
series of easy-to-use graphic interfaces.

A team of scientists,
museum and library specialists, artists,
computer programmers, and K-12
educators are designing the site and
selecting content information to
ensure that "Windows to the
Universe" will be a useful educational tool.
The prototype version
went on-line in March 1996 and is currently being
evaluated at the
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum. Version 2.0 will be available
in
October.